Trace your family roots across North Africa and uncover the stories of your ancestors.
Build your family tree, explore cultural traditions, and connect with your heritage.
Create and visualize your family tree with our easy-to-use tools and templates.
Discover and preserve the stories, traditions, and histories of your ancestors.
Explore the different periods that marked North African genealogical history.
Patronymic system (name based on direct father).
Beginning of French control. Coexistence of systems.
1882 law on name fixation.
Patrilineal system established.
Discover different documentary sources for your genealogical research.
Hold duplicates of civil status registers from the colonial period.
Legal and notarial documents from the Ottoman period.
Documents relating to religious endowments and family patrimonies.
Understand the transition between patronymic and patrilineal systems.
Before the law, the name changed with each generation (e.g., Ali Ould Mustapha).
Challenge: Research stops if 'Ould' or 'Ben' mention is not found.
The law imposed the creation of civil status and definitive fixation of surname.
Importance: Gateway to centralized archives.
Practical tips to succeed in your genealogical research.
Note all known family information and interview older members.
Most archives are organized by region.
Many colonial archives are available online.
Search for your ancestors in our database.
Visualize and create your family trees interactively.
Choose the right solution to preserve your family history.
Discover the experiences of those who have found their roots.
Exchange with other researchers and share your discoveries.